[hackman2007]

I'm currently in the process of planning a media center build. Budget is not known at the moment, just looking at parts. But lets not go crazy (think <$500).

I haven't shopped for a tuner yet, that will be a separate thread.

This build is forced in to the LGA775 socket.

Here are the parts I'm thinking:
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 (cannot change)
2-4GB of RAM
Windows 7 Professional (cannot change)
200-1TB hard drive
350w power supply (cannot change)
A micro-ATX motherboard
Micro ATX case

I haven't done any part researching myself yet (will update with a post later), so I'm looking for suggestions on:
Motherboard
RAM
Case
Hard drive (possibly)

[cigars n scotch]

I was going to make a post regarding the same thing but it looks like I don't have to even though it'd be nice if some more knowledgeable members replied to help out.

What I am building: Media Center box that will house my movies, music, pictures that I will stream to my Xbox 360, and HDD backups. This box will have WHS (Windows Home Server) on it as the only OS (got the idea from a recent MPC mag article). My build will be about $250 cheaper than what MPC recommended (I didn't go with the exact parts MPC recommended).


Parts list (all bought off of newegg):
Antec 200 case
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit
(2) Western Digital Caviar Green WD15EADS 1.5TB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive (MPC went with the 2TB drives but they were $199 a piece)
Rosewill Green Series RG530-2 530W Continuous @40°C, 80 PLUS Certified,Active PFC "Compatible with Core i7, i5" Power Supply
AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor 2.8GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor
GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard


I went back and forth with the mobo MPC recommended (ASUS) because of negative reviews I found on newegg and finally just went with the Gigabyte.

All parts are supposed to arrive Thursday so I am looking forward to getting everything put together..[/list]

[cup]

Hack, for the simple reason of expanability, I'd recommend a full-ATX board. With most mATX boards having but one PCIe x1 slot, and nearly every tuner out now being x1 formfactor, a full board is the way to go, IMHO.

My recommendations, based off of what you're starting with:
Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L, $80
Case: nMEDIAPC 6000B ATX Media Center / HTPC Case, $90
RAM: 2x 1GB Kingston HyperX, $60
HDD: depends on how much storage you want, of course. I'd definitely recommend WD drives (nothing but good results I've had from them.) Keep in mind, of course, that recorded TV sucks drive space like mad. Media Center uses 2-4GB/hour for standard-def content, and 7-9GB/hour for HD.
That said, a terabyte is only $110....
Videocard: HIS HD 4650, $45.
PSU: PCP&C 470, $80

That puts you at $465 (including $30 shipping), plus an OS (got one for it?)
Media Center in Win7 is teh shiznit....

As to tuners: the HVR-2250 is a really nice board for $130 (with MC remote.)
However, if you're a cable user, and can hold off for 2-3 months or so, I'd highly recommend holding off for the release of Ceton's 4-stream DCT (expected 1Q 2010.) (TGB discussion on the card can be seen here.) Supposedly, Hauppauge is also planning on releasing a DCT sometime next year, too. But, nobody seems to know anything past that strong rumor (like, release date, estimated price, etc.)
I know that I'm very much looking forward to getting my hands on one for the MC server.....

Back to the subject of the mobo:
If you decide that you'll want the Ceton DCT, and won't want any more tuners past that, then a mATX board is a bit more workable (what with the tuner taking up your only x1 slot.)
In that case, I'd go with a GA-G41M-ES2H ($65), swap out the RAM for this Crucial kit ($47), and skip the videocard.
Those changes knock the parts down to $423, shipped.

[hackman2007]

Hey cup,

Thanks for the recommendations.

As for the tuner, I think I'm going to hold off. I want to see what happens with the tuner area.

I think I will skip the videocard though, not like it is really necessary since it will just be a media center. I did take different RAM though (had to do with price). I picked up This Kit from Fry's (order online).

I do have the operating system already.

I also have a 350w Antec PSU that I'll probably use to save a bit of cash. I doubt the computer is going to take a lot of power.

[cup]

A 350W should be fine, especially for an E4300 and no videocard.
You going with the mATX board, I take it?

Just out of curiosity, what OS will you be running?
And, you need a remote control?

[hackman2007]

[cup]

[zippzom]